Hasselt (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Hasselt schools follow the Limburg Capital Region police’s updated 2025 protocol, covering 30 schools, guiding staff on safety, sexual assault, online risks, and police involvement.
As VRT News reported, the Limburg Capital Region police zone has launched a fully updated school protocol to improve safety and support for students in its area, which includes Alken, Diepenbeek, Halen, Hasselt, Herk-de-Stad, Lummen, and Zonhoven.
Commissioner Bart Appeltans said that although a school protocol had existed for years, it had gradually been overlooked, and many new staff members were unaware of it or its contents. The new protocol is now presented as a visually appealing brochure that can be kept on staffroom tables.
“We’ve now included many things that happen online in the protocol, such as sexting, but also radicalisation. This mainly occurs through chat rooms and other online applications. The role of schools in signalling radicalisation is also included in the new protocol,”
says Commissioner Bart Appeltans of the Limburg Capital Region police zone.
What does the 2025 Limburg police protocol mean for Hasselt schools?
The protocol also addresses cases where students share information about incidents that occurred outside school. It provides clear instructions for teachers and staff on how to respond, ensure students receive proper support, and involve the appropriate authorities.
“In the school protocol, we emphasise that victims can go directly to the care centre, even if they prefer not to file a complaint,”
says Tamara Van Gucht, Chief Inspector of Family and Morals at the Detective Department.
In the past, schools were required to call the police whenever they learned about a criminal offence, and the police had to open a case. Commissioner Van Gucht explained,
“Now, a victim has a choice. Schools must decide whether or not to involve the police.”
“We have to call the police 4 to 6 times per school year.”
Catherine Mulders, deputy director of the Hasselt Catholic Education
The protocol also provides practical guidance for staff in Hasselt and nearby municipalities. Catherine Mulders said the brochure explains how schools should respond to offences inside the school. Mulders added that police calls are still rare and usually involve serious incidents like drug possession or physical aggression toward groups of students. On average, schools contact the police 4 to 6 times per year.
The Limburg Capital Region police zone has a long history of guiding schools on student safety through its school protocol. The first protocol was introduced in 2010, but over time, it became less visible, and many new staff members did not know its content. In 2023, the opening of the Sexual Assault Treatment Centre in Genk led authorities to include information about its services in school guidelines.
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